Spring 2016

We are having a delightful and busy spring this year.

We started out our February with a library visit and Groundhog Day craft. We listened to stories about shadows and learned about the groundhog and what happens on Groundhog Day. The kids loved this craft which became a very much enjoyed “toy” long after they made it.

The kids also enjoyed their first time playing mini golf at Blackbeard’s Cove Family Fun Park. The weather was perfect and it was a beautiful, breezy, sunny day. We all had an enjoyable time.

Isa has been hard at work on her school work. She’s continuing to practice writing letters, tracing shapes, puzzles and matching. She is so eager to do schoolwork and projects!

Our next visit to the library was a special one. There were special guests to help explain and celebrate the Chinese New Year. Not only did they bring a very cool drum that the kids got the opportunity to play, but they also demonstrated the lion dance in costume. After watching the lion dance, the people dancing inside explained the meaning of the dance and gave the kids a good look at the lion costume and how it works. It was a very exciting and interactive day at the library!

After storytime and the lion dance education, there were two crafts for that week. First was making a Chinese lantern. Second was making a monkey hat since this is the Chinese year of the monkey.

You can see the Chinese Lanterns they made in the background of this photo.

Mr X has been showing an interest in the pattern blocks so I’ve started working on that him.

The week leading up to Valentine’s Day we focused on God’s love and Valentine’s Day related crafts.


We began with a Little Saints activity illustrating how God’s love for us grows where the kids had to organize their hearts in order of size.

Next, we did a Learn & Grow activity involving heart puzzle matching.

Not to completely abandon all our other work that week, we snuck in some number tracing and writing for good measure.

Another day we worked on little heart pom pom creatures which turned out pretty cute.

At the library we also did Valentine’s Day crafts. They got to make sign language I Love You’s (with help).

The kids also helped each other decorate hearts.

Isa decorated clothespins and helped make felt Valentine roses. I guess her brother needed a break from all that Valentine stuff!

 

The kids also made Valentine’s cards for Jesus.

We also spent some time working on the Lenten Adventure pages.

One week at the library the kids read stories about mittens and made a mitten craft.

Towards the end of February we took the kids out to Boone Hall Plantation. The kids got to see and feel cotton growing on the plant and operate a mini portable cotton gin.

One week at the library we read about rainbows and did a rainbow craft.

Another week at the library we celebrated with a birthday party for the Cat in the Hat’s birthday!

With the arrival of warmer temperatures in March we have been very busy gardening.  And the kids have been eager to help with planting and watering.

The warmer temperatures have also brought the return of lots more outdoor critters in which Isa is showing very much interest. Unlike her mother, she’s got no fear of catching and handling insects, worms, frogs and lizards. She’s fascinated with them!

She caught this tree frog all by herself!

Showing off her lizard.

And special someone celebrated her 4^th birthday with a party at a horse ranch. She so enjoyed the horseback rides!

The kids also had a nice Easter, attended an egg hunt and got to see the Easter bunny.

In early April we took the kids to Hidden Ponds Nursery. In addition to the usual plants and garden materials, they have chickens, dogs, ducks, geese, goats, donkeys and a koi pond. The kids had so much fun!

Also in early April we took the kids out to the Shell Ring Trail in Awendaw. It was a beautiful day, we got some good exercise and the kids got to learn about clam & oyster shells as well as crabs.

Another April adventure involved a visit to the Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center. There we got to see endangered red wolves and walk the Nebo nature trail.

Standing next to the jawbone of a humpback whale.

Alpha female red wolf

Here are a couple newer dance class photos. Isa has made extraordinary strides in dance class these last few weeks. We are so very proud of her accomplishments this year. And we’re only a month away from her first dance recital!

Isa has also been learning to read and making great progress with it. She is now reading simple sentences. She also got a See & Spell learning resource for her birthday which she (and her brother) loves to use as well.

And with that I’ll leave you with some candids.